245 Rolex A rare and fascinating, Day Date, automatic wristwatch in yelllow gold, with wood dial, reference 18238.

Estimate: € 20.000 –⁠ 40.000

• Model Day-Date
• Year 1995
• Reference 18238
• Case Material 18K yellow gold
• Case Number W315938
• Bracelet Material 18K yellow gold Rolex bracelet, approximate length 195mm
• Movement Automatic, cal. 3155, 31 jewels
• Dimension 36mm Diameter
• Signed Case, dial and movement
• Literature This specific watch is published in Pucci Papaleo’s Book "DAY-DATE, The Presidential Rolex" at page 436-437.

Among the great pillars of modern watchmaking, Rolex occupies a singular position, not merely as a producer of robust timekeepers, but as a maker of enduring symbols. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Day-Date, introduced in 1956 as the first wristwatch to display both the day of the week spelled out in full and the date through an aperture. The reference 18238, introduced in the late 1980s, represents a pivotal evolution of the line. It ushered in the modern era of the Day-Date with the adoption of the caliber 3155, Rolex’s first double quick-set movement, allowing independent and rapid adjustment of both the day and the date. The familiar 36 mm yellow gold case with fluted bezel retained the classical proportions of its predecessors, yet the technical refinement beneath the surface marked a decisive step forward in usability and reliability. What sets the present example decisively apart is its rare wood dial and state of oxydation/preservation. Produced in extremely limited quantities, wood dials, crafted from carefully selected veneers, were among the most daring and unconventional expressions Rolex ever offered for the Day-Date. Each dial is inherently unique, with its own grain, tone, and organic warmth, transforming what is often perceived as a symbol of corporate power into something far more personal and nuanced. Adding further distinction, this watch retains its original caseback sticker, a detail increasingly prized by seasoned collectors as a quiet but powerful indicator of originality and preservation. Exceptionally preserved with beautiful accents of oxydation to both the case and bracelet, this Day-Date 18238 with wood dial captures an extraordinary moment in Rolex history, when the brand briefly allowed itself a touch of poetic eccentricity.